Thursday, May 22, 2008

Why I prefer grey days: Reason #319

I think I may have mentioned that it was hot earlier this week. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Hot. The kind of hot where our clothes were drying faster on the line than they would have in the dryer. And we all know how much I don't like the hot.

I have a new reason. Apparently when the day dawns clear, the birds around here get a little excited. Oh, heck. Let's be honest. They get really excited. Talking at the tops of their little peeping voices excited. At 5:00 in the morning. So, every morning this week (while Rick's been gone), the birds have gone apeshit at 5:00. An hour that no person should have to be awake for twice in a day. This has been immediately followed by the cats darting in and out of the pet door, aiming to see if any of the birds are so distracted by the sun rising (as if it didn't happen every day) that they might let themselves be caught. This in turn wakes Tilly up, and she has to see what all the fuss is about, which involves going in and out of the pet door, chasing the cats, and hopping on and off the bed.

On all of these mornings, the girls were up and dressed by 6:30, fixing themselves a breakfast to eat -- loudly -- on the back patio. At 6:30 in the morning.

Needless to say, not so much with the sleeping.

Yesterday, the marine layer was back. My beloved May Grey that everyone around here gripes about (also much griping about the June Gloom), but which I view as the perfect weather. The birds do not get excited at 5:00 on a grey morning. And the cats sleep peacefully next to my legs, and Tilly does not jump onto the bed. The girls, exhausted, I can only assume, because of too many short nights, slept until 7:30. The problem with this idyllic picture? Thursdays are the day we have to be out of the house at 7:45. "Why," the girls asked me, "do we always want to sleep in on the mornings when we can't?" I answered them as honestly as I knew how.

"Because you're perverse."

Yesterday, I had work-related reasons to be near the Temecula Valley Yarn Company (everyone can go ahead and make pitying noises now), and actually had enough time to pop in. I did, in fact, make it a true pop, as I had promised myself that all I would look at was spinning-related materials. I'd actually gone in hopes that they might have a nifty gadget for measuring wpi (I know, I know, I can use a ruler), but they didn't. They did, however, have this, which I had to bring home with me.The colors are not coming through here at all -- they are much darker and deeper, almost a purpley-green, if you can imagine. It's a tussah/cashmere blend, in a colorway called "evergreen", which it definitely is, by the Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks. I bought it for the Tour de Fleece that I'm participating in this summer. As I'll be travelling for the first week of the Tour, I'll be bringing a spindle with me, and I thought something very light that I want to spin very fine might be perfect for some travel spinning, so this is it.

I got some other spinning done last night, and have finished the second bobbin of the Linguistic roving. Now I can ply!This, assuming it turns out all right, is destined to be a pair of mitts for Older Daughter. I can't wait to knit it up! Meanwhile, work continues on the skirt.

(I have tried to post a picture of my progress here; however, I am being thwarted by Blogger, so you will have to use your imaginations. I'll update later if I can.)

For those who have been following the Skirt Saga, a few words of reassurance. I measured the skirt against one of my favorite skirts the other night. It's a bit wider, which I am happy with, as I want some leeway for it to shrink up a little when I machine-wash it. But it's definitely on the right track, and will not be too small, and, at about 1/3 of the way through the knitting, it is about 1/3 as long as that skirt. It would also appear, at this moment, that I will have enough yarn, so I'm feeling pretty good about this one.

Bea has tagged me for a meme, which I am contemplating, and will post the answers to sometime tomorrow. I also have a wonderful package to share. Meanwhile, it's sprinkling outside. I am going to gaze upon the little bitty droplets and think longingly of next winter...

I grew up in a hot hot climate (north Texas), so I remember the relentless heat. But now that I live in upstate New York, where we've hardly broken 60 degrees all week and haven't seen the sun since I can't remember, it seems a long time ago that I complained of the heat. I suppose we always miss what we never get enough of...

I had to laugh at your description of the birds in the morning and the chaos that ensues. We had our first night with the windows open last weekend, and I couldn't believe how raucous our feathered friends were! I'm so sure there's a nest in the lilac bush. Well, that got the cats chittering and pouncing and running around the bedroom (they're not allowed outside). There are worse ways to wake up than sunshine and bird song, but 5:00 is a bit early!

I don't mind the grey, but I'm ready for some sun (and temperatures approaching 60 would be nice!). I will make a mental note to enjoy the spring cool while I can. Thanks for the reminder!

I am with you totally, I hate the hot weather too! So,today I am happy after 4 days of really hot,it is Grey and cold here too and now it really rain which is a reason for a party in this desert in recent years, so I am celebrating!

Wow - popping in for spinning things takes less time than for knitting? I'd imagine the possibilities multiply geometrically when you take the step back to roving. I'd be stopped in my tracks by the choices.